Miami

My friend and flatmate embarked on an overseas trip from Milan to Miami. It was not such a long thing, but the two of us who remained home missed her alot. We skyped a few times and summing up her experiences of Florida:

Beach, palms, heat, humidity and alligators.

What surprised me during my research on the city is though it seems like a super metropolis, there are only circa 400 000 inhabitants of Miami which is a far less figure than I expected.

This is a very cool postcard I love it :)

From: A. A. M.

Date: October 2012

Milano

Left column: the entrance of Castello Sforza, the fountain in front of the Castello and the Teatro alla Scala.
Center column: Duomo by night and the entrance of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II from the rooftop of the Duomo. Right column: Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II, the interior of the Galleria and the bull mosaic

This postcard was sent by me upon my arrival to my new home for a year. I went on Erasmus exchange to Milan, Italy. Initially it was supposed to be only one semester but I enjoyed it so much I extended the scholarship for the entire academic year.

By that time I'd known Italy pretty much: I learnt Italian, I travelled around the country, been to Rome three times but I had a blank space in my knowledge and it was this city 'cause I'd never been there before.
I was very excited to arrive, my father drove me by car and helped me moving there. I had a picture in mind how Milan would look like, I was expecting the typical Italian streets and atmosphere which I'd had seen before. In the contrary, we've arrived to a city which looks much more like my hometown Budapest. I realized the Habsburg Monarchy and the vicinity of the Northern bordering countries made their impact on the urban landscape of Milan so much it became a non-typical Italian metropolis.

Though the city has vibe and charm and I'll always like it because I spent a very good year here making lot of dear friends with who we're still in touch and every now and then visiting each other :)

I can tell it was a very abundant year regarding postcard collecting 'cause Erasmus people do travel alot :)

Date: October 2012

Marina Bay Sands in Singapore

Singapore is the city-state in Southeast Asia located in an island at the southern tip of Malaysia. Singapore used to be an important marine commercial center during the course of history and it is still today.

Marina Bay is in the city center and since 2010 the Marina Bay Sands is prevailing the view. It is an ultra-futuristic building complex designed by Israeli architect Moshe Safdie. The design follows the principles of feng shui "to create a perfect balance of energy and harmonisation with the environment." The complex includes a hotel, a casino, a theatre, and the shell-flower shaped building as an artscience museum. On the top there is a 9,941 m² park and an infinity swimming pool which looks like having no edges giving a perfect uninterrupted water surface.

(Source on the architectural design: http://www.msafdie.com/file/1698.pdf)

From: F. E.

Date: February 2017

Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur

This postcard was absolutely on my wishlist and my wish came true recently. My boss brought this card for me together with the Singapore one giving whole new pieces to my collection :)

I'm citing the text written on the reverse side: "Completed in 1996, the 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers stand tall 452 meters above street level. Located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The structures are currently the tallest twin towers in the world. The Towers are significant landmark symbolizing this progressive, modern city and representing the pride of the nation." Petronas is a Malaysian oil and gas company.

I have to add some additional info: The designer of the twin towers is the Argentine architect Cesar Pelli. They were built in three years from 1993 to 1996 and they were the tallest building from 1998 to 2004 in the world. The towers are still the tallest twin towers in the world.

Though the towers appear totally modern by their entire glass and steel structure, they contain motifs e.g. the star-shaped Rub el Hizb cross section plan, resembling Islamic art as a reference to Malaysia's Muslim religion. 

It can't be seen on this scanned picture, but the towers in the card are glossy, making the postcard even more awesome :)

From: F. E.

Date: February 2017

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and the second largest city after Glasgow. It is an administrative, economic and educational center, home to the Scottish Parliament and the renowned University of Edinburgh. 

The most remarkable sight of the city is the Edinburgh Castle which you can see in the postcard. The castle was built on the top of a volcanic rock providing a naturally defended position to it. The way leading to the Castle from the Old Town is the Royal Mile which is a vivid thoroughfare of the city.

There's an interesting thing on the Royal Mile called the Heart of Midlothian. It is a heart-shaped mosaic in the pavement which signs the entrance of a demolished prison (tolbooth). A custom among locals is to split in the middle of the heart for good luck or to evoke how the prisoners used to enter here.

Edinburgh is a lovely city with many interesting parts, I really wish to return once.

Date: March 2002

Isle of Skye

Geographically the Isle of Skye is the part of the Inner Hebrides along the northwestern coast of Scotland. It has a population of about 10 000 people. 

Skye has beautiful wild landscapes e.g the Mealt Waterfall and Kilt Rock you can see on the left postcard. This is the northernmost point I've been so far in my life.

We spent a day and than stayed for a night on the island where, I remember we received warm hospitality.

The Isle of Skye is a must to see in Scotland!

Date: March 2002

Glamis Castle

The Glamis Castle

The Glamis Castle is famous for its ghost legends, among them is the story of "Earl Beardie." The lord was crazy to play cards and on a Saturday, when it was recommended not to gamble, he wanted to play but all of his hosts in the Castle refused and even his servant advised him to stop. Earl Beardie became so furious that he claimed that he would play until doomsday, or with the Devil himself, A stranger then appeared at the castle and joined Earl Beardie in a game of cards. The stranger is identified with the Devil, who takes Earl Beardie's soul and, in some versions, condemns the Earl to play cards until doomsday. Later, strange voices and sounds were heared coming from this room so it was walled up.

Elisabeth Bowes Lyon, mother of Queen Elisabeth II the so-called Queen Mother was born here in 1900 and spent her childhood in the Castle.

Date: March 2002

Inverness

The name Inverness means "Mouth of the River Ness" in Gaelic language by reason of its location. It is considered as the capital of the Scottish Highlands.

The Inverness Castle is a remarkable sight of the city overseeing the river from a cliff. 

It is said to been built in the medieval times by king Máel Coluim III after pulling down the original one where Macbeth the King of Scotland, the title character of Shakespeare's tragedy killed Máel Coluim's father.

Date: March 2002